Stanley Tookie Williams did take responsibility for his actions and showed remorse for the harm he had caused, contrary to what Syl Jones (Opinion Exchange, Dec. 13) and a recent letter writer say.

I see remorse and the taking of responsibility for his actions in the tremendous work he did reaching out to bring peace to the gangs, writing children's books, and his mentoring of his former neighborhood's youth who were heading down the path he had gone.

True, he did not admit to the crimes he was convicted of. But that's not a lack of remorse. That's being honest about a corrupt justice system that could and would convict a gang leader of a crime he didn't commit just to get him behind bars.

Tookie is a saint. Its Authority that is evil.

Yeesh. how do these people function in life?

7
posted on 12/17/2005 11:56:07 AM PST
by mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)

In order to be sorry and hope someone forgives you you have to admit and understand that what you did was wrong, apologize sincerely, promise never to do it again, then don't do it again and make amends the best you can.

I don't think the requirements were met here.

Therefore, although this was not a crime directly against me and it is not my place to forgive, I don't see how you can be forgiven without truly being sorry for what you did.

11
posted on 12/17/2005 12:00:39 PM PST
by Siegfried The Red
(Subgeniuses are the last TRUE Americans!)

If more "CIVILIZED" people had the courage, yes courage is required in order to view the indescribeable horror those photos "PROVE" what kind of hideous beast from hell Tookie was. We would be stampeding through the current Lets Make A Deal type court system across America to do away with the insane liberal coddling gym spa scene that exists as prisons today.

Tookie Williams - He Showed Remorse I was listening to someone on the radio, can't remember who, maybe Glen Beck--but anyway there was a guy who witnessed the whole lethal injection process and said that he showed "no remorse". And plus some of the guards were getting threats from current (I think) and former Crypts members. So stupid. Good riddence murderer!

Rozycki found himself listening to Christian radio while delivering pizza and it was then that he became aware of how right-wing media is shaping our culture.

What pushed Rozycki into action was something the late Senator Wellstone said to Bill Bradley when Al Gore was smearing him during their presidential campaign. Bradley didn't want to do anything about it. Wellstone told him, "You have to respond, if you don't respond people will believe it."

Rozycki felt that St. Joan's needs to respond to the fall/redemption theology that is all over the media. All we're hearing is "God made us flawed and he's ticked off." That faction believes that the purpose of religion is so that we learn to believe in Jesus - and only Jesus- so that we are saved (i.e. go to heaven.)

According to Rozycky, "There is no media that affirms the purpose of religion as encouraging us to a higher spirituality through community, through a deeper joy in all of creation, through the healing power of love, through a comprehension of the divine in and about us all."

Rozycki believes that he could broadcast a life-affirming message from the Bible that can stir us to action. God is not an angry and vengeful God that some fundamentalists would have us believe. St. Joan's message is accepting and non-judgmental, like Christ's message. We need to send a truly Christian perspective where people are not excluded.

Actually, his idea started as a radio show, but Rozycki found that the possibilities were limited. KFAI is the only station to allow public programming, and they are not in short supply of programs. The proposal and approval process was going slowly. Then one Sunday Rozycki heard a homilist suggest that, based on the success of the SJA website, St. Joans ought to consider a cable TV program. (Who says God doesn't speak to us in concrete terms?)

After a small amount of research, he found that cable TV is more accessible, and St. Joan's would have more control over content. Initially, it seemed like just matter of supplying tapes, and the local access channel would broadcast them. Paul also found out that the once the show is produced, other cable stations would be more willing to air it. He jumped on it, putting the invitation to meet in the bulletin.

The response was great. Of the dozen or so people who showed up, most were connected to the video/TV industry in some way. Producers, writers, actors, musicians and videographers have brainstormed at two meetings so far, and confirmed that Rozycki's idea for a TV show was a good one. Is anyone surprised that our congregation is filled with so many gifted people from all industries and walks of life? People came to the meeting out of a sense of passion, out of a sense of, "My God, something needs to be said here. We're being drowned out by right wing think tanks and fundamentalists. We need to put our understanding of truth out there, a theology that represents St. Joan's, our approach to church, Christianity and community."

I see remorse and the taking of responsibility for his actions in the tremendous work he did reaching out to bring peace to the gangs, writing children's books, and his mentoring of his former neighborhood's youth who were heading down the path he had gone.

----I , too am full of remorse for even reading the article.

31
posted on 12/17/2005 1:05:48 PM PST
by WasDougsLamb
(I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man)

excerpt:True, he did not admit to the crimes he was convicted of. But that's not a lack of remorse. That's being honest about a corrupt justice system that could and would convict a gang leader of a crime he didn't commit just to get him behind bars.

Trust me. If PAUL (Ro-Sicky)ROZYCKIs precious baby girl were slaughtered by Tookie and all the bleeting Pro-criminal celebrity sheep had to stare at the crime scene/autopsy photos of Tookies VICTIMS they would be singing a different tune.

When someone tells you who they are BELIEVE THEM! These pro-murder fiends are telling the public who they are, over and over, again and again.

Amazing display of self-righteousness. The letter-writer even acknowledged that Williams never admitted to the crimes. How can you show remorse over an act you deny you ever committed? The depths to which liberals will sink in order to feel noble (about themselves--and to hell with the real world) includes transforming a murderous perpetrator into an innocent victim. Tears for a multiple murderer, not the slightest thought for the victims or their families. Free Mumia.

I wonder if Paul Rozycki, resident bleeding heart of Minneapolis, shed any tears for Tookie's four victims? I doubt he did. Paul's letter is just another case of a liberal redefining a word--in this case, "remorse"--in a pathetic attempt to win an argument.

41
posted on 12/17/2005 1:48:42 PM PST
by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington
(How long do we have to pretend that the vast majority of Democrats are patriots?)

We(I) like to think when we confront the Ultimate Inquisitor that we have our affairs in order. I personally take solace in such stories as the "prodigal son" and "Let the one without sin cast the first stone." I take such solace because I think I am the prodigal son etc, etc. That will all come later.

For today all we(I) can do is take personal responsibility and atone as well as we(I) can for what we(I) do to others. To the best of my knowledge, Tookie never took responsibility for his murders. He did, however, atone early last Tuesday.

to do something that shows that you are sorry for something bad that you did:

- The country's leader has expressed a wish to atone for his actions in the past.

atonement

noun {U} FORMAL

- He said that young hooligans should do community service as atonement for their crimes.

Mr. Williams didn't atone for his crime - he received the just punishment for it. Atonement would be making amends - if you vandalized someone's house, you put a new paint job on it. If you accidentally hurt someone, you pay for the medical bills and help them get groceries until they're well.

He certainly may have turned his life around at some point, and I hope he did. I'm reasonably prepared to meet Ted Bundy in heaven, based on Jim Dobson's interview and opinion of Bundy's authentic repentance and conversion. I may run into this guy as well. But the change in his life, if it occurred, does not change what he did, nor the punishment he deserved.

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